What is a parcel shop, and how does it differ from parcel lockers and home delivery? Get an overview of the pros and cons, and see how you can offer it.
What is a parcel shop?
A parcel shop is a staffed location where carriers deliver parcels that the recipients then collect themselves. Parcel shops are typically found in convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations and other shops.
When a customer chooses delivery to a parcel shop, the parcel is sent to the chosen parcel shop instead of the customer’s home address. When the parcel is ready for pickup, the customer is usually notified by text message, email or the carrier’s app.
The parcel can then be picked up during the parcel shop’s opening hours. Depending on the carrier, the customer may need to use a pickup code or show ID, for example.
Many parcel shops also serve as a service point, where senders can drop off parcels that already have a shipping label from the carrier the parcel shop works with.
A parcel shop is therefore a type of pickup point. Pickup point is the broader term and also covers parcel lockers.
What are the advantages of delivery to parcel shops?
Delivery to a parcel shop gives the customer the freedom to choose where to collect the parcel, without having to be home for the delivery:
- Free choice of pickup location: The customer doesn’t need to be home when the carrier arrives and can choose a parcel shop close to home, work or a place they pass anyway in their daily life.
- Personal service: Staff are on hand to help if there are questions about the parcel or the pickup.
- Easy returns: Many parcel shops are also service points, so the customer can drop off a return parcel at the same place.
- Delivery to a parcel shop is often cheaper than home delivery because the carrier can plan a more efficient route with fewer stops.
What are the disadvantages of delivery to parcel shops?
On the other hand, delivery to a parcel shop requires the customer to collect the parcel within the shop’s opening hours and holding period:
- The customer has to collect the parcel: It takes a trip to the parcel shop, which can be inconvenient for large or heavy parcels.
- Pickup follows opening hours: The parcel can only be collected while the shop is open. For customers with irregular working hours, an outdoor parcel locker may be a better alternative.
- Limited holding period: The parcel is typically only held for a limited number of days. If it isn’t collected, it is returned to the sender.
- Size and weight limits: Parcel shops can usually only accept parcels up to a certain size and weight, and the limits vary from carrier to carrier.
What is the difference between a parcel locker, a parcel shop and home delivery?
The three delivery methods differ mainly in where the parcel is delivered and how the customer receives it.
| Parcel shop | Parcel locker | Home delivery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is the parcel delivered? | A staffed pickup point, e.g. a convenience store, a supermarket or a gas station | A self-service locker | The customer's address |
| Service | Staff on hand | Self-service | The carrier delivers the parcel |
| When can the parcel be collected? | During the shop's opening hours | Often around the clock if the locker is outdoors | Depends on the time, access conditions and the carrier's delivery terms |
| How the customer gets the parcel | Pickup code or ID, depending on the carrier | Code, QR code or the carrier's app | The parcel is delivered straight to the door |
| Does the customer have to collect the parcel? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Returns | Many parcel shops also accept return parcels | Depends on the locker and the carrier | Depends on the carrier |
There is therefore no single delivery method that suits every customer or parcel. When you offer several delivery options, the customer can choose the solution that best fits the individual order and their needs.
Who offers delivery to a parcel shop?
A number of carriers offer delivery to parcel shops and other staffed pickup points.
With Shipmondo, you can set up delivery to pickup points with carriers such as:
Each carrier uses its own names for its services. At PostNord, for example, parcel shop delivery is called PostNord ServicePoint, while dao offers daoSHOP.
Which carriers and shipping products you can use depends on, among other things, your carrier agreements and the country you ship from.
Offer flexible delivery with Shipmondo Delivery Checkout
With Shipmondo Delivery Checkout, you can let your customers choose their preferred parcel shop directly in your webshop’s checkout.
Based on the customer’s address, relevant pickup points can be shown so the customer can choose the location that suits them best. The choice is then saved on the order.
You also decide which delivery methods you want to offer. This could be parcel shop, parcel locker and home delivery from one or more carriers, for example. You can also choose to offer only home delivery from one carrier and only parcel shop delivery from another, depending on your customers’ preferred delivery methods and carriers.
You can also set up shipping rates and delivery rules based on order value, weight, number of items or postal code, for example, and in this way tailor delivery to your webshop and customers.